Qatar launched on Sunday an ambitious plan for e-government in the Gulf emirate to mark the 29th anniversary of independence, the official Qatar News Agency said.

Crown prince Jassem Bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the first phase of the plan, which allows several ministries and public bodies to grant residence visas and collect fees through a computerized system.

"It is only the start of an ambitious plan to link all state bodies electronically to improve efficiency and reduce costs," QNA said.

Dubai, one of the seven members in the United Arab Emirates, in April announced a revolutionary project to propel public services into the Internet age within 18 months and warned officials they would lose their jobs if they refused to go electronic. — (AFP, Doha)